Difference between revisions of "Voice chat"

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{{Quotation|'''The Spy''' to the late Scout|May I borrow your earpiece? "This is Scout! Rainbows make me '''cry'''! Over!"|sound=Spy_DominationScout06.wav}}
 
{{Quotation|'''The Spy''' to the late Scout|May I borrow your earpiece? "This is Scout! Rainbows make me '''cry'''! Over!"|sound=Spy_DominationScout06.wav}}
  
'''Voice chat''' is a communication feature available in all versions of ''Team Fortress 2'' and is primarily used for coordinating team play and general conversation.
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'''Voice chat''' is a communication feature available in all versions of ''Team Fortress 2''. It is displayed at the bottom right side of the [[HUD]].
  
 
In the PC version, voice chat functions in a push-to-talk manner (default key: {{Key|V}}). Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in a headset into the controller. On the PlayStation 3, a wireless Bluetooth earpiece can be used.
 
In the PC version, voice chat functions in a push-to-talk manner (default key: {{Key|V}}). Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in a headset into the controller. On the PlayStation 3, a wireless Bluetooth earpiece can be used.
  
{{clr}}
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When a player is using voice chat, a speech bubble icon is displayed on the right side of their [[HUD]]. Another bubble appears above the player's head, visible to teammates. On alltalk servers, a team-colored speech bubble is shown over all talking players, including cloaked and disguised enemy [[Spy|Spies]]. Additionally, a talking player's name and team are displayed as a colored bar on the right side of the HUD. If they are waiting to respawn, [[File:Health_dead.png|20px]] will appear by the side of their name.
==Uses==
 
Voice chat is helpful in situations that require detailed or rapid communication, such as:
 
 
 
*Warnings for incoming enemies.
 
*Communicating with your [[Medic buddy]] to activate his [[ÜberCharge]].
 
*Coordinating an attack with a group of other players.
 
*Rooting out disguised [[Spy|Spies]].
 
*Indicating the locations of enemy [[Engineer]] [[buildings]].
 
*Telling people the exact location of the [[Capture the Flag#Intelligence|Intelligence]].
 
*Informing teammates of fallen enemies or destroyed buildings.
 
*Calling for backup.
 
 
 
==Voice Chat Misuse==
 
Any of these actions may result in a kick or ban from the server:
 
 
 
* Playing music using external programs (allowed on "micspam" servers).
 
* Verbally threatening or harassing players.
 
* Screaming into the microphone to agitate other players.
 
* If alltalk is on, giving the enemy locations of your team (unless the map/game/server is non-serious and it doesn't matter).
 
* Making repetitive trade requests in a non-trading server.
 
{{clr}}
 
 
 
== Limitations ==
 
[[Image:Mute_Players.png|thumb|The "Mute players" button|50px]]
 
  
 
A player's voice can only be heard by their own team by default, but dead players can still be heard by their living teammates (again, by default). On servers where "alltalk" is enabled (with the setting {{code|sv_alltalk 1}}), all players can hear each other, including players who are on opposite teams or waiting to respawn. The alltalk feature is not available on the console versions.
 
A player's voice can only be heard by their own team by default, but dead players can still be heard by their living teammates (again, by default). On servers where "alltalk" is enabled (with the setting {{code|sv_alltalk 1}}), all players can hear each other, including players who are on opposite teams or waiting to respawn. The alltalk feature is not available on the console versions.
  
Specific players can be muted in the PC version via the [[main menu]] by clicking the "Mute players" button near the bottom of the screen. Voice chat can be disabled altogether in the Voice tab of the options screen.
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As of {{Patch name|7|3|2020}}, in order to use the voice chat in Valve official servers, a player must have an [[Account types|premium]] account and a [https://help.steampowered.com/faqs/view/71D3-35C2-AD96-AA3A non-limited user account] on Steam.
  
On the PC, in-game voice chat is sometimes complemented by the use of third-party [[w:VoIP|VoIP]] software, such as [https://discordapp.com/ Discord], [http://mumble.sourceforge.net/ Mumble], [http://www.teamspeak.com/ Teamspeak], or [http://www.ventrilo.com/ Ventrilo]. This allows players to coordinate with their teammates regardless of server limitations. For example, using an alltalk-enabled Team Fortress 2 server and two external voice channels simultaneously allow for public discussion between the teams, and private in-game coordination among teammates.
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Specific players can be muted in the PC version via the [[main menu]] by clicking the "Mute players" button near the bottom of the screen. Voice chat can be fully disabled in the [[Advanced options]] dialog.
  
== Muting players ==
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In-game voice chat is sometimes complemented by the use of third-party [[w:VoIP|VoIP]] software, such as [https://discord.com/ Discord] or [https://www.mumble.com Mumble], mainly in tournaments. This allows players to coordinate with their teammates quickly, regardless of server limitations.
#Press {{Key|Esc}} to bring up the main menu while connected to a server.
 
#Click the mute players icon at the bottom of the screen (Looks like an ear with an X in it).
 
#Scroll to the offender's name.
 
#Highlight their name.
 
#Click '''Mute in-game voice''', or double-click their name.
 
 
 
[[File:Mute Player.png|left|300px]]
 
 
 
{{clr}}
 
 
 
== Speech bubbles ==
 
When a player is using voice chat, a speech bubble icon is displayed on the right side of their [[HUD]]. Another bubble appears above the player's head, visible to teammates. On alltalk servers, a team-colored speech bubble is shown over all talking players, including cloaked and disguised enemy [[Spy|Spies]]. Additionally, a talking player's name and team are displayed as a colored bar on the right side of the HUD. If they are waiting to respawn, [[File:Health_dead.png|20px]] will appear by the side of their name.
 
  
 
== Update history ==
 
== Update history ==
 +
{{Update history|
 
'''{{Patch name|10|1|2014}}'''
 
'''{{Patch name|10|1|2014}}'''
 
* {{cvar|tf_teamtalk}} is now on by default - the dead can talk to the living
 
* {{cvar|tf_teamtalk}} is now on by default - the dead can talk to the living
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* The CELT voice codec is now the default for all game servers
 
* The CELT voice codec is now the default for all game servers
 
** Community servers can enable use of the older steam voice codec with {{cvar|sv_use_steam_voice 1}}
 
** Community servers can enable use of the older steam voice codec with {{cvar|sv_use_steam_voice 1}}
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'''{{Patch name|6|16|2020}}'''
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* Added "Enable [[text chat]]" and "Enable voice chat" options to the top of the Advanced Options dialog to disable in-game text and voice chat
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'''{{Patch name|7|3|2020}}'''
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* Accounts that are unable to chat in [[matchmaking]] are now also restricted from sending voice chat
 +
}}
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==

Revision as of 15:53, 12 February 2022

A speech bubble indicating a speaking player.

Voice chat is a communication feature available in all versions of Team Fortress 2. It is displayed at the bottom right side of the HUD.

In the PC version, voice chat functions in a push-to-talk manner (default key: V). Voice chat on the Xbox 360 is activated simply by plugging in a headset into the controller. On the PlayStation 3, a wireless Bluetooth earpiece can be used.

When a player is using voice chat, a speech bubble icon is displayed on the right side of their HUD. Another bubble appears above the player's head, visible to teammates. On alltalk servers, a team-colored speech bubble is shown over all talking players, including cloaked and disguised enemy Spies. Additionally, a talking player's name and team are displayed as a colored bar on the right side of the HUD. If they are waiting to respawn, Health dead.png will appear by the side of their name.

A player's voice can only be heard by their own team by default, but dead players can still be heard by their living teammates (again, by default). On servers where "alltalk" is enabled (with the setting sv_alltalk 1), all players can hear each other, including players who are on opposite teams or waiting to respawn. The alltalk feature is not available on the console versions.

As of July 3, 2020 Patch, in order to use the voice chat in Valve official servers, a player must have an premium account and a non-limited user account on Steam.

Specific players can be muted in the PC version via the main menu by clicking the "Mute players" button near the bottom of the screen. Voice chat can be fully disabled in the Advanced options dialog.

In-game voice chat is sometimes complemented by the use of third-party VoIP software, such as Discord or Mumble, mainly in tournaments. This allows players to coordinate with their teammates quickly, regardless of server limitations.

Update history

October 1, 2014 Patch
  • tf_teamtalk is now on by default - the dead can talk to the living
  • When you mute a player, the mute settings now apply to text chat as well as voice chat. If you want the previous behavior, change convar cl_mute_all_comms to 0.

March 12, 2015 Patch

  • Reduced the latency of voice audio.

November 18, 2016 Patch

  • Added beta support for the CELT voice codec
    • Currently only enabled in community servers that opt-in to the beta
    • Server operators can enable CELT usage by setting the below convars, followed by a level change
      • sv_use_steam_voice 0
      • sv_voicecodec vaudio_celt

December 21, 2016 Patch

  • The CELT voice codec is now the default for all game servers
    • Community servers can enable use of the older steam voice codec with sv_use_steam_voice 1

June 16, 2020 Patch

  • Added "Enable text chat" and "Enable voice chat" options to the top of the Advanced Options dialog to disable in-game text and voice chat

July 3, 2020 Patch

  • Accounts that are unable to chat in matchmaking are now also restricted from sending voice chat

Gallery